2014 successful for veterinary services in Palawan

January 23, 2015 11:53 pm

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA) — The year 2014 had been successful for the Palawan Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) with the declaration of six municipalities as rabies-free zones, decreased in dog biting incidents, and the positive start of the program artificial insemination (AI) for carabaos.

Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Gil Acosta said a lot of people think that the job of the PVO is ignorable, but the fact is, it forms part of the major targets on health of the IHELP program agenda for the Palaweño people.

In 2014, the six municipalities declared as rabies-free zones were Araceli, Cagayancillo, Cuyo, Kalayaan, Linapacan and Magsaysay.

From 4,308 dog biting incidents in 2011, the figured that was logged in 2014 greatly decreased to 1,728. The PVO said no dog or resident died because of rabies too, for three years now.

According to the PIO, this was because the PVO massively conducted information campaign against keeping domesticated animals, especially dogs, from rabies and to report any incident as soon as possible so attention can be given.

Per PVO records, at least 11,845 cats and dogs owned by 6,540 individuals were vaccinated in 18 municipalities in Palawan. The veterinary office also registered the location of 11,822 cats and dogs.

During the year, it was able to conduct four major anti-rabies fora to provide vital knowledge to residents regarding the illness. These were done in Bataraza and Quezon in the south, and Taytay and Dumaran in the north.

Around 20 additional vet aides were also trained to help in their barangays as PVO volunteers.

The PVO also marked 2014 as a year of success also with the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the provincial government and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) for the development of the genes of carabaos in Palawan through AI.

The program aims to increase the production of milk of native carabaos, train AI technicians, and give Palaweños an edge in their farms with the ones that have undergone insemination.

Under the program, the PCC were able to train 19 AI technicians from 11 municipalities at its main center and at the National Dairy Authority (NDA). Out of 119 individuals, 12 came from the LGUs and 11 were from the barangays.

Over 1,120 orientations on AI Breeding Program were also conducted that serviced 11 municipalities and 96 barangays. The breeding program benefited 1,377 farmers.

A total of 1,638 carabaos and cattle underwent AI, 575 of which were inseminated with sperm cells from Indian Buffalo; 278 are now expectant, while 735 were dewormed and given vitamins.

The PVO succeeded too, in vaccinating against hemorrhagic septicemia and other common ailments of other farm animals. A total of 1,658 farm animals owned by 813 residents were vaccinated.

The PIO said the PVO remained to be in monitoring mode on the entry of farm animals in ports in the province to keep the animals safe and free from diseases. In 2014, it reported that 1,389,982 came to Palawan and were properly quarantined.

Most of the animals that were brought in were swine, dogs, rabbits, birds, geese, and ducks. A total of 8,542 animals were shipped out of the province.

The PVO was also active in inspecting meat products, as well as slaughterhouses in the municipalities of Aborlan, Sofronio Espanola, Brookes Point, Quezon and Taytay. (PNA)